Such are the soaring aspirations of Brian O'Driscoll's Ireland that not everyone in Dublin is content this morning. The failure of the International Rugby Board to anoint O'Driscoll as player of the year has raised more than a few hackles and victory over the world and Tri-Nations champions did not generate the exuberant reaction it might once have done. Winning has become so familiar under Declan Kidney that frowning perfectionism has replaced hat-throwing euphoria.

The ever-restrained Kidney would also be the last man on earth to leap on to the table at the post-match dinner, brandishing his IRB Coach of the Year award. There would be more chance of Thierry Henry relocating to Tralee, or Jedward releasing a decent single.

If there is a twin spectre which will keep Kidney awake at night, it is the fear of losing his Munster prop idols, John Hayes and Marcus Horan, for the Six Nations. This may be the first modern Irish side to go through a calendar year unbeaten but aside from the cold and finger-numbing fog, the most arresting first-half sight on Saturday was that of a home scrum being shunted in the general direction of Holyhead.

That Ireland still managed to beat the world champions and stretch their unbeaten streak to 11 games said much for their growing maturity under the no-nonsense leadership of Paul O'Connell, as well as the tactical bone-headedness of the Springboks. Quite why they continued to believe that testing the outstanding Rob Kearney under the high ball was a shrewd move will remain a mystery.

"You've got to question why a team's game plan would be to kick balls to him," said Gordon D'Arcy, who is more familiar than most with his Leinster team-mate's Gaelic football-honed athleticism.

Until Cian Healy comes to terms with life in a Test front row, the jury must remain out on Irish chances of beating the world in 2011. What the autumn has proved beyond doubt, however, is that the Boks are increasingly vulnerable against smart, resilient opposition. Ireland, via their South African forwards coach, Gert Smal, demonstrated that if you pressurise the world champions' lineout, negate their kicking game and match them physically you stand every chance of victory. In their differing ways Ireland, France, Saracens and Leicester have also underlined the Boks' lack of variety when certain key men are unavailable. On Saturday the late withdrawal of the lock Bakkies Botha was clearly a blow and John Smit, South Africa's inspirational captain, will have to be used sparingly if he is to last the course until 2011.

There is also the apparent contradiction between South Africa's hard-earned accolade as the IRB's team of the year and the lack of recognition for their head coach, Peter de Villiers. Either way, South Africa have not ended the year strongly and weariness is not solely to blame.

"I don't think this tour will have any influence on our mindset going forward," said De Villiers, defending his tour selection. "Most of the guys are going to hang up their boots after 2011 and we wanted to look at the young guys."

Maybe, but they still look suspiciously like a team in decline. Ireland, in contrast, have good reason for optimism. In Jonathan Sexton they possess not just an alternative to Ronan O'Gara but a confident, self-aware fly-half who kicks well. His five penalties from seven here were enough to nail Ireland's third win in a row over the Boks, whose try-scorer, Schalk Burger, was roundly booed following his eye-gouging antics against the Lions in the summer.

It will be fascinating to see how Sexton develops, not just in the Six Nations but on Ireland's subsequent summer tour to New Zealand and Australia. In his white jersey, kicking penalties from all angles, the difference between "Jonno" and Jonny Wilkinson was difficult to spot through the swirling murk.

It is also worth remembering that Ireland were without, among others, Luke Fitzgerald, Denis Leamy, Geordan Murphy, Shane Jennings and Horan, while Stephen Ferris and Paddy Wallace departed early with ankle injuries. There is a growing depth and balance to their squad about which England, for one, can only dream. Never mind that half the country is under water and the other half is up to its neck in debt. Irish rugby is still bobbing merrily along, appropriately propelled by a proud son of Cork. Kidney worked wonders during Munster's glory years and he fully deserves the global recognition which is now flowing his way.